Mei Semones - Animaru
“Tell me your favorite things, lead me to better days.”
Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Mei Semones’ second EP Kabutomushi gained her a great deal of praise in 2024, from listeners, critics and her fellow musicians alike. This year, she has followed that project up with her debut studio LP, Animaru, released via Bayonet Records, which takes all of her best traits to a whole new level.
The first thing that stands out about Mei Semones as an artist, particularly on this album, is her unique brand of indie rock, which incorporates bossa nova grooves, a strong jazz influence, and a blend of English and Japanese in her songwriting. The blend of genres gives her music a light, fun feel; the occasional scat singing adds a very compelling degree of whimsy. However, there is also a certain sense of wistfulness and nostalgia, adding a welcome contrast.
What truly brings the music to life, though, is the production. The record makes brilliant use of space in the mixes of the tracks, making them feel breezy and effortless, even in its more energetic moments; the core instrumental parts, such as the intricate guitars, are complemented brilliantly by additional instruments, such as strings - the lead single, “Dumb Feeling”, and especially “I can do what I want” stand out in this regard. Mei Semones’ gentle, subtle vocals also fit this feel perfectly, making Animaru feel like a smooth, tender fairytale, a carefully crafted musical world. The nearly six-minute closer, “Sasayaku Sakebu”, is a great example - despite its length, it remains very engaging from start to finish.
The writing throughout the project is likewise strong and well thought out. It contains plenty of vivid imagery, which oftentimes feels very romantic and warm; the two languages that Mei Semones employs interchange seamlessly, not interrupting the flow of the tracks. In fact, they only serve to amplify the understated, mystical beauty of the record.
Overall, Animaru is a mature, emotionally intelligent body of work, which continues a sharp upward artistic trajectory for an incredibly promising, multifaceted musician. Mei Semones has shown herself to be a very capable songwriter and inspired instrumentalist, and, crucially, has developed a sound that is very uniquely her own. If she continues developing and refining it, she unquestionably has the potential to be a defining artist in the modern-day indie scene.
8.3/10
